Backplate

Abstract

A dryer with an air outlet disposed above the motor assembly and having a backplate that mounts to a supporting structure. The backplate includes an integral air channel between the blower assembly and the air outlet.

1 . A dryer assembly for mounting to a support structure having an electrical service, said dryer assembly comprising:
 a backplate configured to mount to the support structure, said backplate defining an air channel and having an upper portion, a middle portion and a lower portion and wherein said air channel extends from said lower portion through said middle portion and to said upper portion and wherein lower portion defines a blower inlet in fluid communication with said air channel and said upper portion defines an air outlet in fluid communication with said air channel.   
     
     
         2 . The dryer assembly of  claim 1  wherein said air channel includes a longitudinal portion and a lateral portion extending therefrom and wherein said lateral portion is located in said upper portion, and defines said air outlet, and wherein said blower inlet is defined by said longitudinal portion. 
     
     
         3 . The dryer assembly of  claim 1  wherein said backplate includes an outer perimeter having a first longitudinal side approximately aligned with a second longitudinal side and first and second lateral sides extending between said longitudinal sides, and wherein said longitudinal sides are greater in length than said lateral sides and wherein said air channel includes a longitudinal portion aligned with said longitudinal sides and wherein said lateral sides each have a length and wherein said longitudinal portion is located within 25% of said length of said lateral side from said longitudinal side. 
     
     
         4 . The dryer assembly of  claim 1  wherein said air channel includes a first chamber in said lower portion, a second chamber in said upper portion and an air passageway extending therebetween in said middle portion, and wherein said second chamber has a volume that is greater than the volume of said first chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The dryer assembly of  claim 4  wherein said air passage has a lateral cross sectional area less than the lateral cross sectional areas of each of said first chamber and said second chambers. 
     
     
         6 . The dryer assembly of  claim 5  wherein air is fluidly channeled through said air channel from said blower inlet to said air outlet and wherein said air channel is configured to increase the velocity of said air as it moves from said first chamber to said air passage and decrease the velocity of said air as it moves from said air passage to said second chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The dryer assembly of  claim 6  wherein said air channel is configured to ensure that during operation said first chamber has a higher velocity of air movement than said second chamber under a constant supply of air through said blower inlet. 
     
     
         8 . The dryer assembly of  claim 1  wherein said air channel includes a first chamber having walls defining said blower inlet configured to sealing receive a gasket having a laterally extending opening in fluid communication with said first chamber and wherein said gasket sealingly engages a blower assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The dryer assembly of  claim 1  wherein said backplate includes a first surface and a second surface bounded by an outer perimeter and wherein an outer lip extends on said second surface away from said first surface, and wherein said air channel protrudes from said first surface and said second surface defines a first chamber, a second chamber and an air passage of said air channel and wherein said blower inlet and said air outlet each form a passage between said first and second surfaces and wherein said outer lip includes an outer edge having a substantially planar surface configured to mount against the support structure. 
     
     
         10 . The dryer assembly of  claim 9  wherein said outer lip is interrupted by at least one attachment feature. 
     
     
         11 . The dryer assembly of  claim 9  wherein said outer lip is interrupted by at least one electrical passage. 
     
     
         12 . The dryer assembly of  claim 9  further including an outer cover and wherein said outer cover is configured to engage said outer lip for a substantial portion of said outer perimeter. 
     
     
         13 . The dryer assembly of  claim 9  wherein said backplate further includes a plurality of attachment locators configured to allow attachment of said backplate to the support structure and wherein said attachment locators include a raised surface on said second surface and wherein said raised surface is in substantially planar alignment with said outer edge. 
     
     
         14 . The dryer assembly of  claim 9  wherein said second surface includes recessed portions relative to said outer edge. 
     
     
         15 . The dryer assembly of  claim 14  wherein said recessed portions are recessed at least a 10 mm relative to said outer edge. 
     
     
         16 . The dryer assembly of  claim 14  wherein said recessed portions include portions of the second surface proximate to an electrical box on the first surface. 
     
     
         17 . The dryer assembly of  claim 14  wherein said recessed portions of said second surface form a wall cavity when mounted on the supporting surface and allow power to be routed from the electrical service to said electrical box without drilling holes between said first and second sides other than within the area defined by the first surface within the walls of said electrical box. 
     
     
         18 . The dryer assembly of  claim 1  wherein said backplate includes a first surface and a second surface bounded by an outer perimeter and wherein an outer lip extends on said second surface away from said first surface and wherein said second surface defines an electrical passage having a concave surface extending from said outer lip to an area proximate to an electrical box located on said first surface. 
     
     
         19 . The dryer assembly of  claim 18  wherein said electrical box defines a hole between said first surface and said second surface. 
     
     
         20 . The dryer assembly of  claim 1  wherein said air outlet is defined by edges and wherein said edges are configured to sealingly receive an air nozzle. 
     
     
         21 . The dryer assembly of  claim 1  wherein said backplate includes a first large opening forming at least 10% of the area of the backplate in said middle portion, and a second large opening forming at least 5% the area of the backplate in said lower portion. 
     
     
         22 . A dryer assembly for mounting to a support structure having an electrical service, said dryer assembly comprising:
 a backplate configured to mount to the support structure, said backplate having a first surface and an opposing second surface configured to face the support structure and wherein said backplate defines a blower inlet extending between said first and second surfaces and an air outlet extending between said first and second surface;   an air channel defined by said backplate and extending between said blower inlet and said air outlet; and   a blower assembly in fluid communication with said air channel.   
     
     
         23 . The dryer assembly of  claim 22  further including a cover plate and wherein said air channel includes a cavity defined by said second surface and said cover plate seals said cavity from said second surface. 
     
     
         24 . The dryer assembly of  claim 23  wherein said air channel includes an air inlet chamber proximate to said blower inlet and an air outlet chamber proximate to said air outlet and an air passageway extending between said air inlet chamber and said air outlet chamber and wherein said air passageway has a smaller lateral cross sectional area than said lateral cross sectional area of said air inlet chamber and said air outlet chamber. 
     
     
         25 . The dryer assembly of  claim 22  wherein said backplate includes an integral electric box having walls and a conduit passage extending between said electric box and an edge of said backplate. 
     
     
         26 . The dryer assembly of  claim 22  wherein said backplate includes attachment features and is bounded by an outer perimeter and wherein an outer lip extends on said second surface away from said first surface, and wherein said air channel protrudes from said first surface and wherein said outer lip includes an outer edge having a substantially planar surface configured to mount against the support structure, and wherein said attachment features include a surface in substantial planar alignment with said planar surface. 
     
     
         27 . The dryer assembly of  claim 22  wherein said backplate includes a contoured recess on said first surface proximate to said blower assembly. 
     
     
         28 . A dryer assembly for mounting to a support structure having an electrical service, said dryer assembly comprising:
 a backplate configured to mount to the support structure, said backplate having an outer perimeter bounding a first surface and an opposing second surface and wherein said second surface is configured to face the support structure and wherein said backplate defines a blower inlet extending between said first and second surfaces and an air outlet extending between said first and second surface;   an air channel defined by said backplate and extending between said blower inlet and said air outlet;   a blower assembly in fluid communication with said air channel; and   an electrical box integrally formed on said backplate and an electrical passage formed on said backplate extending between said electrical box and said outer perimeter.   
     
     
         29 . The dryer assembly of  claim 28  wherein said second surface is configured to be for its majority spaced at least 10 mm from the support structure.